While the Apple Watch Series 7’s battery life isn’t as lengthy as its predecessor’s, it does charge faster – at least until last week. After updating to watchOS 8.5, some users are reporting that the feature no longer works.
The Series 7 is the only one with fast charging. Apple claims that the Apple Watch’s battery can be charged from zero to 80 percent in 45 minutes with this capability.
However, after updating to watchOS 8.5, Series 7 owners on Reddit, Apple support forums, and MacRumors forums report that their Apple Watch charges at a very slow rate.
Several Reddit users reported that their Apple Watch barely charged about 5% in 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, according to a user on the Apple forums, the Apple Watch charges only 5% in one hour. Meanwhile, Apple claims that the Apple Watch SE can charge to 80% in 1.5 hours.
At first, it looked that the problem only affected Belkin’s 3-in-1 BoostCharge Pro users. Some have alleged, however, that the issue extends to Apple’s own fast charging division. The Verge contacted Apple and Belkin for comment, but did not receive a response right away.
One of the Apple Watch’s primary “barriers” is still its battery life. Apple has claimed that its wristwatch can run for 18 hours on a single battery since its launch. (You may take a little longer, but you will still need to charge it every day.) Fast charging is designed to take the guesswork out of charging your Apple Watch, especially for people who wish to track their sleep with the gadget.
Although helpful, the Series 7’s rapid charging feature necessitates multiple procedures. The Series 7 comes with a fast charger that works with it, but you’ll need to bring your own USB-C charger. This charger must also adhere to Apple’s guidelines (which you can see here). While earlier Apple Watch chargers will function with the Series 7, charging speeds will be slower. Additionally, if you’re using a third-party charger, it’s possible that it won’t allow rapid charging. Only two third-party Apple Watch chargers currently support the feature, both from Belkin.
Hopefully, a solution will be available soon. You may have to accept a little longer device charge in the meanwhile.